Disclaimer: I own Esedora too. I just forgot to mention it. Sorry, Esedora. Oh, and Conterous. Not sorry about that one so much.
Life is so Unnerving
'Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving.'
"Sixth year kind of has an ominous ring to it, doesn't it," said Lily as they headed towards the Great Hall.
"Yeah," agreed Esedora, "I know what you mean. It seems so old. Next year will be our last year!"
Asper sighed. "Let's not talk about that," she said. "But I do feel old. Remember how huge the sixth years looked when we were first years?"
Lily smothered a giggle. "They were huge! Surely we're not that big?" she asked as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"I don't know, Evans," said James, "one could say – ouch!" James had received a swift elbow in the ribs from Sirius, saving him from getting into a subject that was perhaps not advisable.
"What could one say, Potter?" asked Lily innocently.
"Erm – that these first years are just abnormally small?"
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Nice save," he muttered.
The Sorting, as usual, took ages. Everyone dug in with intensity once the food appeared. Several people were trying to hold conversations, but as most everyone's mouth was full, this proved to be difficult. The majority of the students simply gave up on conversing and stuffed their faces. A few, such as Sirius, could have kept on going, but the students eventually lumbered up to bed.
"Ohhhhhhh," moaned Asper. "I don't feel so good."
Lily sat down on her bed. "Not surprising, as the only person who ate more than you was Sirius."
"Oh, I can really feel the sympathy. Thanks, Lily."
"Sorry," said Lily, standing up and patting her friend on the shoulder. "Hope you feel better."
"Yeah," said Esedora, yawning. "G'night."
"Night."
"Night."
"Night," said Morena in a squeaky voice.
~
A few weeks later, Sirius came bursting into the boys' dormitory, beaming.
"What're you grinning all over yourself about?" asked James.
"Overheard some Ravenclaws talking," explained Sirius.
"Really," said James, with no particular interest.
"About Lily."
"Oh?" asked James, with a bit more interest this time. "What'd they say?"
"Not much. They were talking about girls in general. Just mentioned her in passing. One of 'em said that he didn't think anyone could handle her."
"He's probably right. And I think she'd object to being something to be handled. In fact, I know she would."
"Yeah, but you know what they mean," said Sirius, waving his hand in frustration.
"But why did that make you so happy?"
Sirius leaned over and whispered with a conspiratorial air, "Well, after that, some other girl said that 'she'd make a good match for that James Potter, though.'"
"Great," said James sarcastically. "Now random people are matching us up."
"You can admit you like her by now, Prongs," said Sirius, looking at him in annoyance.
"So?"
"So, isn't it a hopeful sign that other people think you'd be good together too?"
"Not really," said James. "Honestly, Padfoot, get a grip. It's not like it's ever gonna happen."
"We'll just see about that," declared Sirius. James eyed him apprehensively.
~
"Lily!" cried Esedora, bouncing through the doorway. "Lilylilylilylily!"
"What, Esedora?" asked Lily, who was lying on her bed working on Charms homework.
"I just heard some boys talking about you!"
"Color me excited," said Lily, turning back to her book.
"But don't you want to know what they said?" asked Esedora.
She looked so disappointed that Lily sighed. "Fine, Esedora. Tell me what they said."
"Well," said Esedora, assuming an air of great authority, "they were Ravenclaws, fifth years I think. And they were talking about lots of girls, and they said, 'What about that Lily Evans?' And another boy said, 'Ha! No one would ever be able to handle her!'"
Lily bristled. "Handle me? Did they really say that? Honestly, what am I, a hyperactive puppy?"
"But then a girl came up and said, 'she'd make a good match for that James Potter person, though. They fight all the time.'"
Lily pulled a face. "Oh yes, a really good basis for a relationship there. Fighting. Yes indeed. Why didn't I see it there before?"
"Just thought you ought to know," said Esedora before bouncing out of the room again. She poked her head back in. "Another guy said, 'it's too bad he's still dating Morena Aviance, though.' And his friend said, 'too bad for Lily, not for him.'"
Lily threw a pillow at her friend, and the brunette disappeared.
~
"Hogsmeade next weekend," said Asper as Lily sat down next to her and grabbed a bowl of oatmeal.
"Good," said Esedora, "I need some more candy."
"And I need a new quill," said Lily.
"I just want to get out of this castle," said Asper with a sigh. "For a place so big, it sure seems small sometimes."
"Like now," muttered Lily as the Marauders sat down near them.
"Think we can make it to Zonko's, Padfoot?" asked James in a loud voice.
"I dunno, Prongs," said Sirius in an equally loud voice. "Perhaps we can squeeze it in."
"Honeydukes," Peter pointed out, following suit in the volume, though he wasn't quite sure why.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Let's make a point to stay away from them." Both Asper and Esedora looked they were going to argue but decided against it. Lily didn't notice, and the trio finished their breakfast and headed out of the Hall.
"At least we can look forward to the weekend," said Asper, resigning herself to another week of classes.
"Not if we're bogged down with homework," Esedora pointed out, "and knowing our teachers, we will be."
"Homework," sighed Lily. "Has to ruin everything. We can still make it to Hogsmeade, though, no matter how much. We don't have to stay long."
~
It was abnormally cold for November. The Hogwarts students were wrapped tightly in cloaks, resembling large furry boulders.
"Where to now?" asked Lily, tucking her new quill deep inside her cloak. They caught a whiff of chocolate and turned simultaneously towards Honeydukes. Once inside, they moved slowly around the displays of candy. Lily stocked up on Whizzing Fizzbees, while Esedora picked out three different kinds of chocolate. Asper was staring with interest at the display of Blood-Flavored Lollipops.
"Who would eat these, I wonder?"
"Vampires, I suppose," said Lily. "Hurry up and pick something; Esedora and I want to go get a Butterbeer." Asper snatched a pack of Every Flavor Beans and a sugar quill. Once she had purchased the items, they headed back into the freezing wind. Finally they arrived, teeth chattering, at the Three Broomsticks. The blast of heat nearly knocked them off their feet. They picked a table in the corner and stowed their packages underneath it.
"Three Butterbeers, please," Asper told the young witch who was taking their orders. When their drinks arrived, they stopped chattering for a minute to take a few gulps. They heard the door jangle and turned towards the sound. Sirius and James had entered, grandly sweeping off their hats.
"Two Butterbeers please, Rosmerta m'dear," Sirius said to the young witch. She giggled and went off to get the order. Lily turned back to the conversation, which was now a debate over which of the workers at Honeydukes was the cutest. Lily had just gotten bored with the topic when Professor Dumbledore came in. He had to duck to keep the tip of his hat from knocking over the chandeliers. He bent over even further to talk to Mademoiselle Rosmerta, who nodded towards Lily's table. He came towards them, a grave expression on his face.
"Hello, Headmaster," said Lily automatically.
"Good afternoon," he said to the three of them. "Lily, I was wondering if you might accompany me back to the castle. I'm afraid there are some things we must discuss."
"Of course, sir," said Lily, nervousness creeping into her voice. "Is it – is it serious?"
Dumbledore bowed his head. "I'm afraid so. And I cannot allow you two to come along," he said, seeing Asper and Esedora ready to rise.
"Well, see you at the castle later, then," said Esedora, in a falsely cheery voice.
"Yeah," said Lily in a monotone, slipping on her cloak. "See you."
~
"Sugar quill," said Dumbledore quietly, and a moving, circular staircase appeared. Neither of them had said a word the entire way back, and they were silent as they went up the stairs to Dumbledore's office as well. "Please sit down," he said, taking a seat behind his desk.
"Professor…" Lily began nervously.
Dumbledore sighed. "You must know how I regret having to tell you this. But as Headmaster, I'm afraid it's my responsibility."
Lily fidgeted.
"Do you know who Voldemort is?"
"Kind of. Isn't he sort of going around killing people? And the Ministry can't catch him?"
"Yes. Only, the Ministry cannot see what a threat he may become. Cannot see, or will not see... Voldemort, though half-blood himself, has an intense hatred towards Muggle-borns – and Muggles."
Lily stood up. "I should get back-"
"You need to hear this."
"I don't think I want to."
"Lily," said Dumbledore gently, "look at this picture." He slid a copy of the Daily Prophet over to her. On the front page was her house, with an odd skull-like shadow above it.
"That's my house," said Lily, in a voice barely more than a whisper. Dumbledore bowed his head. Lily scanned the article, her eyes catching on a few phrases.
'The Evans family home…' 'Lily was at Hogwarts at the time…' 'Daughter, Petunia, out with friends…' 'Mr. Evans has not been found…' 'Mrs. Evans was found in the doorway, dead…dead…dead…'
The words swirled in Lily's ears. "No," she muttered. "No!" she cried in a stronger voice. "You're lying to me! They're fine! This isn't funny!"
"It isn't. Oh, Lily, I'm sorry," said Dumbledore, his head bowed.
"It's my fault, isn't it," said Lily, barely audibly.
"It is most certainly not," said Dumbledore sharply. "Don't ever think that."
"My sister will," mumbled Lily, "if I hadn't been a witch…" Lily tried to rise from her chair, but the room spun wildly, and she collapsed.
When she woke she found herself in the Hospital Wing, being tended to by Madam Pomfrey. "Awful shock, simply dreadful," she was muttering. "Here, dear," she said, noticing that Lily had come to, "it's a potion for dreamless sleep." Too exhausted to argue, Lily fell back against her pillows, lost in unconsciousness once more.
Lily had a steady, albeit monitored, stream of visitors over the next few days. She wasn't ready to go back, she told Madam Pomfrey, who made no objection. Asper and Esedora were almost continually by her side. Remus came by also, but admitted that he really didn't know what to say. Nobody did, but she didn't mind. Talk hurt her ears. She wasn't allowed to take the dreamless sleep potion ("Too much can be dangerous") anymore, and her dreams were fraught with images of her parents disappearing in a bright flash of green light.
She awoke one night to a soft rustling noise. Groggily opening her eyes, she saw a tall figure put something on the table by her bed. "Hi," she said, unable to think of anything more appropriate to say.
The figure stood up straight, startled. "Oh. Hi."
"Who are you?"
"James. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"That's all right," said Lily, yawning. "I don't sleep well anyway."
"I'm sorry."
"You already said that," Lily pointed out.
"No, I mean, about everything. I'm really sorry about your parents," said James, sitting down on the edge of her bed.
"Thanks," she said, not wanting to cry in front of him.
"And, er, well, I just hope you feel better soon. And I should let you sleep." He paused, then left the Hospital Wing. Lily drifted off to sleep again, but her parents didn't visit her dreams.
The next morning, she was surprised to find a card next to her bed. Her memories of the past night were very foggy. The card had a picture of a lily on the front, and the inside read simply, 'I'm sorry.' James had scrawled his name rather messily on the bottom.
Madam Pomfrey was quite astonished to find her bed empty when she came around with the breakfast tray.
~
Lily slipped into the Great Hall. Not too many people noticed her entrance, for which she was grateful for. She didn't want to cause a lot of fuss on her first day back. Asper and Esedora were conversing in low voices, and Lily went to join them.
"LILY!" they cried in unison, then jumped up to hug her. "How are you?"
"Hungry," said Lily, sitting down and helping herself to toast with marmalade. Her friends grinned, relieved that she was feeling a little better.
"So," said Asper, munching on a piece of bacon, "there's a Quidditch match this afternoon. You up to going?"
"Yeah, I am," said Lily. "Who's playing?"
"Us against Hufflepuff," said Esedora. "I heard a rumor that Lockhart – Hufflepuff in our year – was playing Seeker."
Asper frowned. "Isn't he the one who thinks he's the most wonderful thing that walks upright?"
Esedora giggled. "Yep, that's him."
~
"You sure you're okay?" asked Esedora concernedly, staring at Lily's face and consequently tripping up the steps.
"No, I'm not. But I will be," said Lily. "Anyway, I really should be outside, you know, with human contact." Asper and Esedora nodded, and led Lily to a seat in the Gryffindor box.
"Annnnnnnnnd they're off!" cried Albert Finnigan. "Potter takes the Quaffle – ah, stolen by Diggory – but he's got it back – dodges the Keeper –" A loud groan echoed from the Gryffindor side; one of Hufflepuff's Beaters had sent a Bludger straight in front of James, forcing him to jerk his broom upwards. In that moment of diversion, Diggory had taken back the Quaffle.
"And Diggory's flying back towards the Gryffindor goalposts – snatched by Abbott – pass to Potter – fast broom Potter's got there – POTTER SCORES!" The stands erupted in an assortment of cheers and boos. Patil, now a seventh year and the team captain, was flying around the pitch, looking intently for the Snitch. Lockhart, on the other hand, was flashing a buck-toothed smile at anyone who happened to look his way.
"I wonder what's wrong with his head?" asked Asper in confusion; Lockhart was continually jerking his head in a manner that was probably supposed to make his brown hair flip cheekily.
"Nice work by the Gryffindor Beaters there – allows Smith to take back the Quaffle – underhanded pass to Potter – Potter passes to Abbott – Abbott shoots – ah, blocked by Jorkins – retrieved by Smith – Smith scores! Play resumes – what on earth is Lockhart doing?" For Lockhart had gone into a deep dive, watched disdainfully by Patil. "Has he seen the Snitch?" Finnigan wondered. The students were either standing up to watch or screaming at Patil to get going, couldn't he tell Lockhart had seen the Snitch?
"Ah, he was feinting!" cried Finnigan triumphantly. "Good dive – too bad it didn't work –" Lockhart was nodding deeply to his Hufflepuff fans, accepting the noise as cheers.
"Potter's got the Quaffle," said Finnigan, suddenly remembering that there was another part of the game still going on. "He's flying towards the goalpost – Jorkins won't be able to stop it – she's too far away – and in comes Diggory, intent on blocking that goal! He knocks the Quaffle from Potter's grip! And they're diving for the dropped Quaffle – neck and neck – Potter's got it! Back towards the goalposts, closely tailed by Diggory – clearly there's some rivalry here – ooh, tricky move by Potter – he's shaken Diggory off – Potter scores again! Seekers are still, well, seeking – Hufflepuff's Beater's are getting upset – ouch, that looked rather painful –" Finnigan suddenly stood up. "And Patil's gone into a dive – why isn't Lockhart moving?" For Lockhart was still smiling at his 'adoring' fans, completely oblivious to the fact that Patil was about to get the Snitch. "Patil's hand is outstretched – oh, yeah, Potter scored again – and he's got it! Gryffindor wins!"
~
People were still discussing the game that night in the common room.
"Can you believe Lockhart didn't even bother trying?"
"Oh, I know. Wasn't Diggory's expression priceless?"
"Ooo, my favorite part was when Lockhart was diving and Patil didn't even care!"
The person talking about it the most, of course, was none other than James Potter himself.
"Well, of course I knew Lockhart was feinting," he said loudly. "It was incredibly obvious."
"But how could you tell?" cooed a Pottergirl.
James shrugged, pretending to be modest. "When you've played as long as I have, you can tell these things."
"I think it's awful how Diggory was all over you," frowned a different Pottergirl, snapping her Drooble's gum.
"Oh, I could have outflown him easily," explained James disdainfully. "I just thought I'd wear him out first."
"Oh, James," sighed the first Pottergirl. "What would we ever do without you?"
James shrugged again. "Lose, I guess."
Author's note: Whew, I'm glad that chapter's over with. Actually, I'm glad this whole section is over with – after this, the story will be mostly in 7th year. The next chapter is really where the story part starts. I just had to give some basic stuff about their beginning years to make the rest work.
[Reviews are greatly appreciated.]